On the electromagnetic detectors of gravitational waves

Summary The coefficients of the metric induced by a gravitational wave are calculated in a Fermi co-ordinate system naturally connected with an electromagnetic detector of gravitational waves. The correct form of the perturbation current is established and the results are compared with those found in the literature. Paper presented at the 2° Convegno Nazionale di Fisica Cosmica, held at L'Aquila, 19 May–2 June 1984.     

The possibility of using cryofiber interferometer as detector of gravitational waves

The history of the question on the possibility of detecting gravitational waves, whose existence is predicted by the General Relativity Theory, is briefly presented. The schemes of cryofiber interferometer, which we propose to use as detector of gravitational waves with amplitude |δg _ij | = 10^?20, are described. We also consider other versions of the use of cryofiber interferometer in both applied and fundamental context, including laboratory experiments in which according to the estimates dark energy density variations can be detected. We describe briefly the optical scheme of a compact interferometric detector of vibrations of a mirror fixed at the end of a massive gravitational antenna; the compactness admits construction of a cryogenic version with cooling of all the elements of such a recording system.     

Detection of gravitational waves using a network of detectors

We formulate the data analysis problem for the detection of the Newtonian coalescing-binary signal by a network of laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors that have arbitrary orientations, but are located at the same site. We use the maximum likelihood method for optimizing the detection problem. We show that for networks comprising of up to three detectors, the optimal statistic is just the matched network-filter. Alternatively, it is simply a linear combination of the signal-to-noise ratios of the individual detectors. This statistic, therefore, can be interpreted as the signal-to-noise ratio of the network. The overall sensitivity of the network is shown to increase roughly as the square-root of the number of detectors in the network. We further show that these results continue to hold even for the restricted post-Newtonian filters. Finally, our formalism is general enough to be extended, in a straightforward way, to address the problem of detection of such waves from other sources by some other types of detectors, eg., bars or spheres, or even by networks of spatially well-separated detectors.     

Radiation pressure induced instabilities in laser interferometric detectors of gravitational waves

The large scale interferometric gravitational wave detectors consist of Fabry-Perot cavities operating at very high powers ranging from tens of kW to MW for next generations. The high powers may result in several nonlinear effects which would affect the performance of the detector. In this paper, we investigate the effects of radiation pressure, which tend to displace the mirrors from their resonant position resulting in the detuning of the cavity. We observe a remarkable effect, namely, that the freely hanging mirrors gain energy continuously and swing with increasing amplitude. It is found that the “time delay”, that is, the time taken for the field to adjust to its instantaneous equilibrium value, when the mirrors are in motion, is responsible for this effect. This effect is likely to be important in the optimal operation of the full-scale interferometers such as VIRGO and LIGO. Received 12 July 1999     

On the pulse width of synchronously pumped lasers

The pulse width of a synchronously pumped laser chiefly depends on the available cavity bandwidth and the pump-pulse duration. A functional form of this dependence was suggested in the literature. We present an alternate relation which is supported by analytical and numerical results, as well as by experimental results, obtained by us and by others.     

Optical metrology for massive detectors of gravitational waves

The high level reached in the stability of laser sources and in the quality of optical components makes interferometric metrology appealing to those involved in the search for detection of gravitational waves (GWs). In this paper we present a readout for massive detectors of GWs, based on laser interferometry with high finesse Fabry–Pérot cavities, and describe the frequency stability of the laser source. The achievable sensitivity at the quantum limit level inherent to this technique requires a careful design, in order to reduce other sources of extra noise. In particular, we focus on the local effects of thermal and radiation pressure fluctuations and present an optical configuration that can reduce these effects below the quantum limit level.     

Additives as ionizing elements in N2 TE UV lasers

This work reports the role some additives have in pre-ionizing a N₂ TE UV laser (337.1 nm). The modifications in both stimulated radiation characteristics and excitation-pulse period prove the different ionizing power of each element. The laser operating without a pre-ionizing wire device and with N₂ plus different additives was able to generate pulses with a temporal width of the same order than those obtained when it was operating with N₂ and a pre-ionizing wire device. Also, a relation between ionization efficiency and interelectrode distance has been established allowing the prediction of conditions for optimum laser-pulse width generation.     

Collective and single-electron interactions of electron beams with electromagnetic waves,and free-electron lasers

The field of radiation emission from electron beams is reviewed with special reference to work related to free-electron lasers. Different schemes of interaction in periodic structures, electromagnetic slow-wave structures, and in transverse confining force are distinguished. Various effects and devices such as traveling wave amplifiers, Smith-Purcell radiators, Cerenkov and bremsstrahlung-free electron lasers, cyclotron resonance masers, coherent bremsstrahlung and channeling radiation are discussed and the differences and relations among them are explained. A simple comprehensive model is developed to describe electron-beam interaction with an electromagnetic wave in periodic electromagnetic structures. The model is general enough to describe both collective and single-electron modes of interaction and quantum mechanical, classical and Fermi degenerate regimes. Simplified expressions are developed for the gain by stimulated emission of radiation and for gain conditions of the Smith-Purcell-Cerenkov type free-electron lasers under conditions of very thin electron beams and infinite interaction length. This research is supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under contract AFOSR-76-2933     

On gravitational shock waves

The discontinuity planes of the Riemann curvature tensorR _klm ⁱ in the Einsteinian vacuumR _kl =0 are isotropic hypersurfaces. These surfaces are to be conceived as being constructed of lightlike geodesics, which form, in the eikonal approximation, gravitational radiation. The discontinuity planes themselves describe the wave fronts of disturbances of the metricg _ik , propagating with the velocity of light. By successively applying continuity conditions for the derivatives of theg _ik that follow from Einstein's equations, we obtain the universal expression of gravitational wave fields in space-time strips (or representations) of arbitrarily selected Einstein spaces.     

Current programs of search for gravitational waves by terrestrial detectors

We discuss the problem of of detection the gravitational radiation which could be produced by relativistic objects in the Universe. After a brief sketch of the detector world net the attention is concentrated on present programs of search for conceivable signals expected in the frame of modern astrophysics. It is concluded that the probability of succeeding with the modern generation of gravitational detectors, sensitive to the metric perturbation on the order of 10⁻²¹, is low. One of the ways to increase the probability is a search for “astro-gravity correlations” where a gravitational detector noise background is analysed referring to the data of gamma-ray and neutrino detectors. Author dedicates this article to Prof. Jiří Bičák’s 60th birthday.     

High-sensitivity transient spectroscopy using tunable diode lasers

Experimental techniques have been developed to monitor transient infrared absorptions using lead-salt tunable diode lasers. The techniques are easily implemented, yield sensitivities which are limited by detector noise at 10^–5 level of absorbance, and have a response time on the order of one microsecond. The transient absorption detection techniques are high frequency versions of the sweep integration technique pioneered by Jennings [Appl. Opt.19, 2695 (1980)]. TDL modulation rates of 100 kHz and 500 kHz allow for absorption sampling rates of 200 kHz and 1 MHz, respectively. In order to reproducibly achieve near-detector-noise-limited sensitivities for 100 kHz TDL modulation rates, an automated analog subtraction circuit has been developed which removes the effects of minor TDL power variations. At the 500 kHz modulation rate, digital filtering techniques are used to remove the effects of this power variation.     

On the dispersion of gravitational waves

The propagation of gravitational waves in cold matter has been analyzed in the geometrical-optics approximation showing no difference from the propagationin vacuum. In a cosmological background a plasmalike dispersion relation has been shown to appear in the postgeometrical optics approximation only. A qualitative discussion of the physical meaning of the present result is given and compared with previous works.     

On the pressure of gravitational waves

A system of coupled point masses under the influence of gravitational waves is considered. By means of the geodesic deviation equation as the equation of motion it is shown, taking into account the second order small terms, that there exist forces which cause the acceleration of the system in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal force is due to the fact that simultaneously with energy momentum is also absorbed from waves. It is proved directly on the basis of the equations of motion of the point masses that the energy and momentum absorbed by the test system obey the special relativistic relationship of a zero rest mass particle. The case when the Weber oscillator moves at a relativistic speed with respect to the source of gravitational waves is also examined. In this case, the absorption of energy and momentum by the Weber oscillator is much larger or smaller compared to the stationary situation.     

MPD arcs as plasma sources for recombination lasers

In this study the decay of argon plasmas ejected from a MPD thruster described in a previous paper is investigated. Various parameters, e.g. the electron densityN _e , the electron temperatureT _e , and the absorption coefficient of the ArII-488 nm transition are measured by different experimental techniques. Axial and radial profiles ofN _e andT _e are determined, and used to decide on the relevant recombination mechanism. In spite of the fact that the dominant three-body recombination favours the population of the high-lying energy levels, population inversions have been observed even with the most sensitive method only in plasmas ejected from a reduced aperture of the MPD thruster. The theoretical analysis shows that the ranges ofT _e andN _e , in which recombination-lasing may be expected, are narrow. In addition, the mechanisms that limit the population inversions in discharge tubes of conventional Ar⁺-lasers restrict the dimension of the plasma perpendicular to the resonator axis. From these facts and the described measurements on population inversions we conclude that the initial diameter of the plasma has to be reduced. We therefore propose a new discharge configuration where extended regions of constant plasma parameters can be expected. With this arrangement it should be possible to reach population inversions required for laser oscillations in ArII.Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdansk, Poland     

On the opto-voltaic measurements in CO and CO2 lasers

We observed and compared the opto-voltaic signals in CO and CO₂ lasers. The signals are obtained capacitively from the water cooling jacket as a low voltage source not influencing the current circuit. We observed from measurement that the output power and the so-called optovoltaic input power have a distinct relationship depending on laser current and cavity parameters. It will be shown that opto-voltaic detection is a very sensitive method especially for CO lasers.     

On the performance of short pulse Nd3+:LSB microchip lasers

Experimental results from studies of the laser characteristics of Nd:LSB crystals in both cw and passive Q-switching arrangements are presented. The dependence of the main laser parameters on the output coupling and saturable absorber transmission for two doping levels of Nd was investigated. It is demonstrated that due to its high absorption, low losses and intrinsic strong thermal lensing, even at pump powers of less than 200 mW, the Nd:LSB has excellent properties in terms of efficiency, beam quality and pulse duration. In addition, it exhibits high pulse-to-pulse and pulse width versus pump power stability. Received: 11 June 2001 / Revised version: 30 July 2001 / Published online: 15 October 2001     

On gravitational and electromagnetic waves

The characteristic manifolds of the systems of equations for the free gravitational and electromagnetic fields are considered. It is shown that these equations are compatible with the existence of wave fronts whose velocity may differ from c.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 2, pp. 46–49, February, 1981.     

On the electromagnetic detection of gravitational waves

Braginsky and Mensky have described a novel gravitational wave detector based on a special gravitational-electromagnetic resonance in an annular waveguide. Their analysis is based on geometrical optics. If the configuration is analyzed as a perturbed boundary-value problem, however, no special resonance is evident. Nor does a more general cavity exhibit such a resonance. This paper concludes with a moral: When investigating the interaction of gravity and electromagnetism, one must be circumspect in applying the eikonal approximation.